JULIAN Smith has strolled home as MP for Skipton and Ripon by smashing his previous poll by over 6,000 votes.

But the national picture looks bleaker for his party, with Theresa May's election gamble seemingly having backfired, with a hung Parliament looking almost certain.

After a long night at the count in Skipton Town Hall Mr Smith had notched up 36,425 votes beating his 30,248 total in 2015.

His nearest rival, Alan Woodhead, fighting his first battle in Skipton and Ripon, saw the Labour count increase by an even bigger margin. He polled 16,440, almost 7,000 more than the Labour candidate at the last general election.

Green party candidate Andy Brown polled 3,734 and 19 year-old Jack Render, The Yorkshire Party's candidate attracted 1,539.

Mr Smith said: "The national result has created an interesting political situation but the core of my work is to represent this stunning constituency and to help get the best deal we can in the Brexit negotiations."

The constituency saw 58,333 votes cast which represented a 74.69 turn out.

Results: Julian Smith (Con) 36,425; Alan Woodhead (Lab) 16,440; Andy Brown (Green Party) 3,734; Jack Render (Yorkshire Party) 1,539.